Bingley Music Live: Bradford Council leader teases return of popular festival
The festival was last held in 2018
BINGLEY Music Live could be making a return to Myrtle Park – according to Bradford Council’s new leader.
Councillor Stephen Place (Reform, Royds) has given residents of the District an update on what the Reform leadership of Bradford Council has been working on since coming to power last month.
The address, posted on Facebook on Tuesday evening, also details plans to review parking charges and a warning to fly tippers.
It also suggests two festivals could be making a return to Bradford.
Cllr Place starts the address by saying new funding due to be approved by West Yorkshire Combined Authority tomorrow will mean the Council will be able to repair 20,000 potholes across the Bradford District in the current financial year.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey Brabin announced last week that Bradford would receive an extra £3.19m in the coming year to deal with the pothole issue.
Cllr Place said: “This will help us out and buy new equipment for the guys so they can get out and fix the potholes. 20,000 is a lot to do, but we hope we’ll be able to do that.”
He goes on to say that the Council is reviewing “issues regarding parking” and the current provision of household waste recycling centres in the District. Cllr Place added: “We’re hoping to re-open some more.”
Cllr Place then goes on to discuss the Council’s cultural plans for the District. He said: “In order that Bradford can celebrate itself and all of its culture we are intending to hopefully bring back Bingley Music Live in Myrtle Park and the Bradford Mela in Manningham Park.”
Waving his finger at the camera, he added: “It is Manningham Park, not Lister Park, I grew up with it being Lister Park.”
Bingley Music Live was a Council run music festival held each Summer. The Council stepped away from organising the festival after the 2018 edition ran £300,000 over budget.
Cllr Place had suggested the Council could bring back BML at a meeting of West Yorkshire’s Business Board earlier this month.
He suggested the decision to book Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in 2018 had led to the festival’s demise. At the meeting he said: “I think that’s what did it. It got too big too fast, trying to pay people like that. They couldn’t afford it.”
Moving on to the blight of fly tipping in his Facebook address, Cllr Place said: “I just wanted to give you a warning, please stop fly tipping in Bradford. We’re coming after you. If you fly tip in Bradford we’re going to find you and we’re going to sort you out with it.
“Stop it.
“If you see anyone fly tipping, please, please report them. Don’t be worried about it. Just get them reported, let us deal with it.
“We’ve got to stop fly tipping in Bradford.”
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has asked Bradford Council for an interview with Cllr Place.